Vauxhall Mallards could well be set for a gruelling day in the field if Cambridge Granta’s top-order batsmen continue their excellent start to the campaign.

With only six matches in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League season played, Granta have already racked up six half-centuries and four tons.

The latest of those came in last weekend’s six-wicket win over Burwell – the first time game of 2017 following an opening run of 50-over contests – as Dougie Rice’s 106 was added to by a knock worth 55 from Michael Pepper.

And with captain Johnny Atkinson and Ben Claydon having also contributed big scores, the team are in good shape.

“It’s nice that the runs are getting shared around all of the batsmen in the top order,” said Atkinson, whose team’s win over Burwell came after back-to-back defeats.

“We’re not necessarily relying on one person to score the runs, which is really good.

“I was really proud of everyone on Saturday, especially as we were missing some key players, and it should make selection interesting over the next few weeks.

“We really enjoyed playing the 50-over format and it’s brought new aspects to our game that we probably didn’t think we had.

“It’s made the bowlers think a bit more, the batsmen think and certainly I’m thinking a bit more about field placings.

“It’s also made the batsmen realise they can bat in a positive manner without being reckless.”

Granta go into tomorrow’s match at Wickhampton Road in fourth place, 34 points better off than their eighth-placed hosts.

And continuing to play attacking cricket is the aim as they look to close the gap on leaders Sudbury.

“We’re feeling really positive,” said Atkinson. “We tried not to be disheartened after the defeats against Sudbury and Swardeston because we know they’re good teams and are going to be near the top come the end of the season.

“We tried to forget about them against Burwell and continue with the good things we’d been doing in the first five games of the season.

“Before lunch we weren’t very good in the field or with the ball, but we managed to drag it back and Burwell ended up getting about a par score when in the first half of their innings they’d been looking like getting well over par.

“We knew we needed to keep wickets in hand for the end so people like myself and Lewys (Hill) could come in and be positive.”